Granular-cell tumor of the esophagus: Report of a case with a cytologic diagnosis based on esophageal brushing

Abstract

We report a case of granular‐cell tumor (GCT) in the esophagus. This is a rare location for this tumor and only 80 cases have been described. The tumor was diagnosed in a 24‐yr‐old woman with epigastralgia. Endoscopic examination revealed a submucosal ulcerated lesion. The smears derived from esophageal brushings contained clusters of granular cells. Histologic examination of the endoscopic biopsy provided diagnostic confirmation of GCT. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of esophageal GCT in which the characteristic tumor cells were seen in the endoscopic brushing material. This case demonstrates that a cytologic diagnosis of GCT is possible if the lesion is ulcerated and/or brushing is subsequent to taking the biopsy. Although rare in the esophagus, GCT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of esophageal neoplasms. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:455–457. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Coexistence of esophageal granular cell tumor and squamous cell carcinoma: a case report

“…14 Nowadays, the diagnosis of esophageal GCTs is mainly based on histologic examination of the tissue samples taken at esophagoscopy, but esophageal brushing, typical endoscopic appearance of the lesion and the results of EUS may also be helpful. 6,8,15,16 As the tumors are located intramurally and frequently covered by thick, hyperplastic squamous epithelium, many samples should be taken to obtain adequate material for histologic examination. 6,7 In the case reported here, the correct initial diagnosis of GCT was impossible as the samples were taken too superficially at esophagoscopy.…”

Association of multiple granular cell tumors and squamous carcinoma of the esophagus: case report and review of the literature

“…The endoscopic appearance is a round, sessile, elevated tumor of the submucosa, yellowish‐white in color, and covered with a smooth glistening surface: ulceration can appear as an irregular umbilication on the center 19 . Biopsies must be deep, as specimens taken too superficially may lead to misinterpretation of the normal hyperplastic mucosa as a carcinoma 20 . Endosonography can be useful in defining the submucosal origin of the lesion and in distinguishing it from lipomas (more hyperechoic).…”

Correspondence

“…The role of cytology in the diagnosis of GCT has been shown in previous reports, including breast 2 , 3 , 4–7 , bronchus 8–10 , mediastinum 11 and oesophagus 12 . These reports stress the importance of such a diagnosis in the differential diagnosis with breast cancer in fine needle aspiration (FNA), and demonstrate the feasibility of this diagnosis from bronchial or oesophageal brushings.…”